Brews, Burgers and Bluegrass

The new food and music festival kicks off Medford Beer Week

Medford will be a happening place over the next couple of weekends. The festivities begin Saturday, June 8, with Brews, Burgers and Bluegrass at Hanley Farm, a new event to kick off the third annual Medford Beer Week — six days of beer tasting and other events that culminate Saturday, June 15, with the fifth annual Southern Oregon Craft Brew Festival in old-town Medford.

Medford will be a happening place over the next couple of weekends. The festivities begin Saturday, June 8, with Brews, Burgers and Bluegrass at Hanley Farm, a new event to kick off the third annual Medford Beer Week — six days of beer tasting and other events that culminate Saturday, June 15, with the fifth annual Southern Oregon Craft Brew Festival in old-town Medford.

Concurrently, car shows, poker runs and other events will lead up to the annual Medford Cruise on June 15. See www.medfordcruise.org for a schedule.

Brews, Burgers and Bluegrass will tap into distinctive brews from Wild River Brewing, Southern Oregon Brewing Co., Portal Brewing Co., Fire Cirkl, Conner Fields Brewing, Caldera Brewing, Bricktown Brewery and Apocalypse Brewing. These can be paired with burgers made with meats from local ranches. Look for natural chicken from Hensel Family Farms, organic lamb from Yale Creek Ranch, pasture-raised chevon, or goat, and bacon from pasture-raised pigs from Willow-Witt Ranch, bison from Full Circle Bison and beef from Plaisance, Salant Family and Yale Creek ranches.

Each brewery will offer two varieties of beer for tasting, and root beer and sodas also will be available along with the burgers, salads, dessert and a vegetarian burger.

Advance tickets to Brews, Burgers and Bluegrass cost $12 and may be purchased at Grains Beans & Things in Medford, The Twisted Cork in Grants Pass, Pico's Worldwide in Jacksonville, Boulton & Son Butchers in Ashland or online at www.buylocalrogue.org. Tickets will cost $15 at the gate. Tickets include a commemorative pint glass and tasting tickets.

Medford Beer Week — a citywide celebration of local and regional craft beers — continues Sunday, June 9, through Saturday, June 15.

The Deschutes Brewery Kickball Tournament will be from 11 a.m. to dusk Sunday, June 9, at Schoolhaus Brewhaus, 525 Bigham Knoll Drive, Jacksonville. Team and player registrations is at 10 a.m. Two fields will be available, with beer tastings at home plate and second base. The winning team takes the Deschutes Kickball Championship Cup. Call 541-899-1000 for information.

Southern Oregon Brewery's line dance party is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, at Rocky-Tonk Saloon & Grill, 333 E. Main St. The brewery will offer beer tastings and giveaways.

Samples of Sierra Nevada will be available from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at Growler King inside Quality Market, 1211 Jackson St., Medford.

Brews from Lagunitas Brewing will be paired with small plates on Friday, June 14, at 4 Daughters Irish Pub, 126 W. Main St., Medford. Call 541-779-4455 for details.

Beer Week officially ends with the Southern Oregon Craft Brew Festival, from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 15, on Bartlett Street, between the parking garage and East Main Street. Look for 27 breweries offering more than 50 different beers, food booths and vendors.

Admission is $14 and includes a commemorative pint glass, giveaways and five tasting tickets. Additional tickets cost $5 for five, or $10 for 12. See www.socbrewfest.com for a complete list of brews available at the festival. The event is open to ages 21 and older.